Rim expanding and contracting device



May 28, 1929. c, GARDNER 1,715,195

RIM EXPANDING AND CONTRACTING DEVICE Filed June 1, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l WITNESS:

ATTORNEY May 28, 1929. M, A DNER 1,715,195

RIM EXPANDING AND CONTRACTING DEVICE Filed June 1, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 marzwjezzzlmg L INVENTOR ATTORN EY Patented May 28, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES MI. GARDNER, 0Z1 GARDNERS, PENNSYLVANIA.

RIM: "EXPANDING AND CGNTRACTENG DEVICE.

Application filed June 1,

This invention relates to a device for retracting and expanding tire rims so to enable the rim to be easily and quickly placed on a tire or removed therefrom, the general object of the invention being to provide a pair of aw carrying members for engaging a rim, one on each side of the split therein, with a pair of levers which are so arranged that the movement of one lever will act to force the members apart and thus expand the tire and the other lever acting to lift one of the members to pull one .end of the rim inwardly and cause it to overlap the other end, thus contracting the rim to enable the rim to be removed from a tire, the operation of placing a rim on a the being reversed to the operation of removing the rim from the tire.

Another object of the invention is to make the jaws adjustable so that the device "can be used on different sizes and makes of rims.

This invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement oi the several parts, to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing my invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which Figure 1 is a view showing the device in use.

Figure 2 is a view showing the parts in a position with the rim expanded.

Figure 8 is a view showing the parts in a position with the rim contracted and its ends overlapping.

Figure 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a plan View of one member of the device attached to a rim.

Figure 6 is a section on line 66 01? Figure 5.

Figure ure 8.

Figure 8 is a section on line 8-8 of Figure 1.

In these drawings, the numerals 1 and 2 indicate a pair of substantially U-shaped members, each member being formed with an enlarged base 3 for engaging a part of the inner face of a rim and a plate 4 is slidably mounted between the limbs of each member, a spring actuated jaw 5 being pivotally conis a section on line 77 of Fig- 1928. Serial 110. 282,176.

nected with each end of each plate. These jaws are adapted to engage the edges of a rim-and they are provided with handle portions 5 so that they can be pushed outwardly against the action of their springs 6 to "free them of the rim. A bolt 7 is rotatably sup ported by the bight of each member and the threaded portion of each bolt passes through a threaded hole 8 in each plate so that by rotating the bolt, the plate is moved inwardly or outwardly according to the direction of turning movement of the bolt to permit the plate to be adjusted so. that the jaws can be set to engage the edges of a rim. An offset arm 9 is carried by the member 1 and this arm has a circular opening therein in which is arranged a disk 10. A lever 11 is eccentrically connected with the disk by a pin 12 and a second pin 13 passes through the lug, the disk and a second lever 14 which is pivoted to the member 2 by the pin 15. The pins 12 and 13 are diametrically arranged in the disk 10 and the pin 13 passes through an extension of the lever 14. The outer end of the arm 9 is rounded, with a portion of the rounded edge being formed 'ith the teeth 16 which are adapted to be engaged by the pawl 17 pivoted to the lever 14 and provided with the usual spring 18.

lVhen a rim is to be removed from a tire, the members 1 and 2 are pressed against parts of the inner face of the rim, one on each side of the split therein, as shown in Figure 1, and as the members are pressed against the rim, the jaws will automatically engage the edges of the rim, as shown in Figure 4, it being, of course, understood that the plates have been adjusted by means or the bolts 7 to a point where the jaws will properly engage the edges of the rim. Then the lever 11 is moved upwardly, as shown in Figure 2, so that one member is moved away from the other member to expand the rim and thus space its ends, as shown in Figure 2. This action results from the turning movement of the disk 10 in the arm 9, which acts to cause the pin 13 to move the lever 14 outwardly and thus move the member 2 away from the member 1. Then the lever 14 is raised to swing the member 2 upwardly, which will lift one end of the rim and on the completion of the swinging movement of the lever 14, the member 2 will move toward the member 1 and thus cause one end of the rim to overlap the other, as shown in Figure 3. The parts will and ii the ends should still overlap or if the locking means of the rim should not be in locking position, it is simply necessary to swing upwardly" the lever 11,vwhichhas been returned tov its lowered position'bythe upward swinging movement ofthe'lever 14 during the operation of contracting the rim, and

this movement of the lever 11 will] push the member 2 away from the member 1 and thus cause one end of the rim to be forced into place and the locking means of the rim to move into locking position. Thus I have provided simple means for contracting and expanding a rim so that the rim can be easily removed from a'tirerand placed ona the.

It is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages and novel features of my invention will bereadily apparent.

' It is to be understood that' I may 'make changes in the construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts,

' provided that such changes fall within the scope of the appended claims;

lVhat I claim is-: 1. A rim expanding and contracting device This reversemovement of the lever 14: will expand the rim usted' position.

ment of one lever willact to force the mema rim out of alignment with the other end and the further movement of said lev e'r will move themembers toward eachother to con tract the rim. Y

comprising a pair of members, rim engaging jaws carried by each member, arlever' carried by each member and eccentricmeans-for connecting the levers together whereby themove- '7 a .40 bers apart to expand airim and'the'movementi' i of the otherleverwill act'to move one end of" 2. A rim contracting and expanding device comprising apair of members,'rim ens;

gaging jaws carried by each memberpanfarmf on one H18Ii1b6l,-8J disk rotatably carried by said arm, a lever eccentrically pivoted tothe disk, asecond lever pivotally connectedwith r the second member, aneccentrically arranged pivot for connecting the disk with both levers and ratchet :means for holding the second leverin adjusted'positionf 1 3; A rim contracting and expanding der vice comprising a pair of members, rim'en-g gaging jaws carried by eachimember, means for adjustingthe jawstosuit' different sizes 7 ()flllllS, anf'arm' on one member, il-(118k ro-J tatably carriedby said arm, a 'lever ec'centricallypivoted to the'disk, a second lever pivotally connected with the second member," an eccentrically arranged pivot-for connecting the disk with both levers-and ratchet;

means forholding the second lever in lad-.5

In testimonywhereofI afiixmy'signaturet CHARLES M ARDNER 

